Opposites attract but how do they STAY attracted?

So, you've read the short story and now here's the conversation that I want ALL of you to get in on please! I am doing some research and surveys to write some articles for Southern Belle Magazine about relationships. More specifically, how to have a long and happy marriage in this day & time when divorce is so easy. Yes, it's quite easy to say, "just never give up, divorce is not an option", but HOW do you work through issues for that to be true? What are the little secrets to keeping a marriage together? Below is a list of questions that I would love for you to give your opinion on! Whether it's something you've experienced personally or just an idea of what you think would work in a situation.
1) Money- keep separate accounts or joint? And, does one person handle or should they do together?
2) Kids- how do you agree on discipline? do you equally share duties with the children or should the mother shoulder more? Should the kids be allowed to sleep in the bed with the parents?
3) Housework- equally share or how do you divide the chores? What are some secrets to not fighting over the little pet peeves such as clothes left on the floor?
4) Careers- should the wife stay home? Is it ok if the wife makes more money? Who should be the stay at home parent or should either if they both love their career?
5) Family- in-laws & such: how important is it that each get along with their spouse's family?
6) Couple Time- how do find alone time when you have children in the home? How important is date night? What are some tips or little secrets to keep the spark alive?
7) Fighting- is it healthy? What's the best way to discuss issues? How do you compromise when you both have different viewpoints?
8) Errands- divide equally or is it more of the wife's responsibility?
9) Goals- do you make goals together? If you have different goals, how do you mesh them?
10) Personalities- so opposites may have attracted, but how do you blend them into a happy life together? He's a realist, she's a dreamer. He's a homebody, she likes to go out. Can compromises be made without changing one's true self?
11) Friends- mutual friends always? Or is it ok if each has their own friends and sometimes does things with them that doesn't include the spouse?
12) Bottom Line: IS love really enough to conquer all?

So there you have it. If I've missed something, please let me know! Your feedback will help in the writing of this series of articles so I am VERY interested in what you have to say!

Until next time,

amy

Can Love Conquer ALL?

Boy meets girl. Crazy for each other. Date for a long while then get married. Children are born. Marriage is hard work. Raising children is hard work. Fighting happens. But the marriage hangs on. Kids start school. New focus. Parents make new friends with other parents. Little couple time. More kid time. Sports. Dads talk. Moms gossip. Marriage hangs on. Children get older. Couple has forgotten how to just be together. All about the kids. Life is a blur of busyness. Schedules to keep. Children & jobs are time consuming. Couple drifts apart. But marriage hangs on. Children are now teens. New stresses. More money needed. Job becomes more important. Blur of busyness continues. Time flies. Couple has gotten older. But not closer. Love is there. Time together is not. Job, home responsibilities, ball games, family night. No time for couple time. But marriage hangs on. Children start graduating. First one, then another. Schedule lightens. But couple is a bit lost. Who is that in the mirror? Who is this spouse? Different people now. Maturity has happened for boy. Maturity has happened for girl. But conversations about future didn't happen much. Where to go from here? Goals are different. Views on life are different. But love is still there. The marriage holds on. But by a thread. Communication has not been reestablished. Kids are gone- now what? Boy works hard, enjoys home. Girl likes to socialize. How to compromise? One has dreams. Other is about the here and now. How to compromise? Lead separate lives? Is that possible? Will marriage survive? Not likely. Compromise is the answer. But how? Little compromises are easy. Big ones change the true self. Can boy continue to love this girl who's changed? Can girl continue to love boy if compromise is done to fit his viewpoint? Will love stay if one changes to make other happy? Is love strong enough? One changes to make other happy. Little resentments build. Why can't each be who they are? Can they be their true self and stay together? Odds not good. But love is there. Surely there's an answer. Or is there? Give up true self? Or give up each other? Marriage still hangs on. But for how much longer?

(see next post for related topic to this post!)
amy